Bittersweet
From Free net encyclopedia
This is an article on a plant. There is also a song called "Bittersweet".
{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Bittersweet | image = Bittersweet3900.JPG | image_width = 240px | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Solanales | familia = Solanaceae | genus = Solanum | species = S. dulcamara | binomial = Solanum dulcamara | binomial_authority = L. }}
Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) is a species of vine in the potato genus Solanum, family Solanaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, and widely naturalised elsewhere, including North America, where it is an invasive problem weed. It occurs in a very wide range of habitats, from woodlands to scrubland, hedges and marshes.
Image:SolanumDulcamara-plant-sm.jpg Bittersweet is a semi-woody herbaceous perennial vine, which scrambles over other plants, capable of reaching a height of 4 m where suitable support is available, but more often 1-2 m high. The leaves are 4-12 cm long, roughly arrowhead-shaped, and often lobed at the base. The flowers are in loose clusters of 3-20, (1-1.5 cm) across, star-shaped, with five purple petals and yellow stamens and style pointing forward. The fruit is an ovoid red berry about 1 cm long, soft and juicy, poisonous to man but edible for birds, which disperse the seeds widely. As with most Solanum species, the foliage is also poisonous to humans.
Bittersweet is used in homeopathic medicine. Its main usage is for conditions that have an impact on the skin, mucous membrane and the membrane (synovial membrane) around the joints. Bittersweet is an important remedy for treating herpes infections and allergies.
The name bittersweet is also confusingly used in some areas for some species in the genus Celastrus (the Staff vines, family Celastraceae), e.g. American bittersweet (C. scandens) and Oriental bittersweet (C. orbiculatus).
Image:SolanumDulcamara-leaf-sm.jpg Image:SolanumDulcamara-flower-sm.jpgcs:Lilek potměchuť da:Bittersød Natskygge de:Bittersüßer Nachtschatten fr:Douce-amère it:Solanum dulcamara lt:Karklavijas nl:Bitterzoet pl:Psianka słodkogórz sv:Besksöta uk:Паслін солодко-гіркий
